Seminar presentation - Culture & Language

Units & Start Practicing


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Some tips when leaning a new language



Some tips when leaning a new language: 
1. Conversation, Conversation, Conversation. If there’s a “secret” or “hack” to learning a new language, it’s this: hours and hours of awkward and strenuous conversation with people better than you in that language-the reason is that language is something that needs to be processed, not memorized. 




2. Start with the 100 most common vocabulary words and then make sentences with them over and over again. Learn just enough grammar to be able to do this and do it until you feel pretty comfortable with all of them. 



3. Carry a pocket dictionary which can be downloaded on your phone, there was an immediate difference. Having it on your phone is great, because it takes two seconds to look something up in the middle of conversation. And because you’re using it in conversation, you’re that much more likely to recall it later. Even something that simple affected my conversations and ability to interact with locals a great deal. 



4. Keep practicing in your head. The other use for your dictionary is that you can practice while going about your day and not talking to anyone. Challenge yourself to think in the new language. We all have monologues running in our head, and typically they run in our native tongue. You can continue to practice and construct sentences and fake conversations in your head in a new language. In fact, this sort of visualization leads to much easier conversations when you actually have them. For instance, you can envision and practice a conversation about a topic you’re likely to have before you actually have it. You can begin to think about how you would describe your job and explain why you’re in the foreign country in the new language. Inevitably, those questions will come up and you’ll be ready to answer them. 



5. Be regular with your lessons as they are important for getting you from absolutely no ability in a language to being able to speak basic sentences and phrases within a few days time. They’re also good for teaching the fundamental vocabulary (words such as: the, I, you, eat, want, thanks, etc.) and grammar rules. 



6. When you learn a new word, try to use it a few times right away. When you stop and look up a new word in conversation, make a point to use it in the next two or three sentences you say. Language learning studies show that you need to hit a certain amount of repetitions of saying a word within one minute of learning it, one hour of learning it, one day, etc. Try to use it immediately a few times and then use it again later in the day. Chances are it’ll stick. 



7. TV shows, movies, newspapers and magazines are a good supplementation. But they should not be mistaken or replacements for legitimate practice. 



8. There will be a lot of ambiguity and miscommunication. Fact of the matter is that for many, many words, the translations are not direct. These subtle differences can add up, particularly in serious or emotional conversations. Intentions can be easily misconstrued. Nuanced conversations over important matters will likely require double the effort to nail down the exact meaning for each person than it would between two native speakers. No matter how good you are in your new language, you’re not likely to have a complete grasp over the slight intuitive differences between each word, phrase or idiom that a native speaker does without living in the country for years. 



9. These are the phases you go through. First, you’re able to speak a little and understand nothing. Then you’re able to understand far more than you speak. Then you become conversational, but it requires quite a bit of mental effort. After that, you’re able to speak and understand without conscious mental effort (i.e., you don’t have to translate words into your native tongue in your mind). Once you’re able to speak and listen without thinking about it, you’ll begin to actually think in the foreign language itself without effort. Once this happens, you’re really hitting a high level. 



10. Finally, find a way to make it fun. As with anything, if you’re going to stick to it, you have to find a way to make it fun. Find people you enjoy talking to. Go to events where you can practice while doing something fun. 




מילות יחס - in, on, at

מילות יחס - in, on, at


באנגלית ניתן למצוא מילות יחס רבות עם מעט מאוד הגיון לגבי בחירת מילת היחס הנכונה בביטוי או במשפט זה או אחר. בהתאם לכך, הדרך הטובה ביותר ללמוד את הנושא היא לפי שימושים שכיחים של מילות היחס. להלן טבלה המסכמת את השימושים הנפוצים לפי קטגוריות של זמן ומקום. אנו ממליצים לתרגל את הנושא ע"י מעבר ייסודי על הטבלה ולאחר מכן ע"י השלמת התרגילים המופיעים בהמשך לטבלה (מפתח התשובות מופיע בתחתית העמוד).
In
On
At
Time
In months and years:in January
in 1975
During the day/night:
in the morning
in the afternoon
in the evening
in the nighttime
In a time period:
in a second
in a minute
in two hours
in a week/month
Miscellaneous:
in the meantime
in those days
in time
in time for...
On days of the week:on Monday
on Tuesday
On specific dates:on September 10th
on 4 April 2015
On holidays:on the 4th of July
on Purim
on Independence Day
Miscellaneous:on time
on vacation
At a specific time:at five o’clock
at 6:15
at noon
at midnight
at sunrise / at sunset
During the day/night:
at night
Miscellaneous:at the moment
at that time
at first
at last
Place
------------------------- 
In countries and cities:in India
in Madrid
In a specific room,
in a building or in an office:in my office
in the conference center
in the hall
Miscellaneous:in a book
 ---------------------------
On a specific street:on Marshall Ave.
on Ha'Shalom Street
On the floors of a building:on the second floor
on the fourth floor
Miscellaneous:on a page
on-line
on a website
on the left
on the right
on the way
 -------------------------
At a specific address:at 125 Maple Street
at Newcomb Rd. #13
At an event:
at a party
at a conference
at the movies
at a meeting
Miscellaneous:at home
at work
at the office
at the station
at the door
at the top
at the bottom

Practice 1. Circle the correct answer
a.
Could you please leave it (on / at / in) the corridor?
b.
He wanted to discuss it (on / at / in) 9 o'clock this morning.
c.
They said it should be here (on / at / in) time.
d.
Let's discuss it (on / at / in) my office.
e.
They are located (on / at / in) number 64, Arlozorov.
f.
It needs to be delivered to a company (on / at / in) Haifa.
g.
We met (on / at / in) High School and have been friends since.
h.
I saw him (on / at / in) the conference (on / at / in) Paris.
Practice 2. Put the correct preposition in the space
a.
My office is ____ Yuval Street, ____ the 2nd floor.
b.
I'd like to meet ____ 12.00 O’clock, ____ the restaurant.
c.
They are located _____ the USA, ____ Chicago.
d.
____ first I wasn’t sure, but ____ those days you had no choice.
e.
It’s ____ Thursday ____ half past two ____ the conference center.
f.
Call me ____ the evening if you have to.
g.
They’ll be here ____ a few minutes.
h.
We started manufacturing ____ 1963 ____ our Munich plant.
Answer Key:
Practice 1: a.in/ b.at/ c.on/ d.in/ e.at/ f.in/ g.in/ h.at, inPractice 2: a.on, on/ b.at, in or at/ c.in, in/ d.At, in/ e.on, at, in/ f.in/ g in/ h.in, at


תבנית לכתיבת אי-מייל עסקי

תבנית לכתיבת אי-מייל עסקי

מכיוון שכתיבת מיילים הפכה לצורת התכתבות שכיחה, יש לזכור שמיילים עסקיים הם מסמכים רשמיים לכל דבר. לכן חשוב לכתוב בצורה רהוטה ומתומצתת וכן להשתמש בפתיח, סיומת, משפטים שלמים ובכללי הפיסוק המקובלים בכתיבה פורמאלית. להלן תבנית כללית של המייל העסקי הכוללת משפטי מפתח אפשריים לכל פסקה במכתב:


Introductions:

  • Dear Ms. or Mr. Cohen,
  • Avi,
  • Dear Sir/Madam,
  • To whom it may concern,

Opening Paragraph

  • I hope this email finds you well.
  • Following your email from July 11th…
  • I read with interest your email of (July 11).
  • In reply to your email of (July 11)…
  • Thank you for your last email…
  • Attached please find...

Body of the email (the purpose of the email)

  • Our company can offer knowledge of the newest products and services…
  • Our company specializes in… and some of our satisfied clients are…
  • I will be arriving on flight 554 to New York, expected to land at 5:00 A.M.
  • It is our policy to…., therefore…
  • The products/goods/samples you requested/ordered should be ready by / within / no later than / in two weeks.
  • Which port do you need the shipment to be sent to?
  • Attached please find our confirmation of order no.                       .
  • Unfortunately, we are unable to reduce our price.
  • Unfortunately, we are unable to give you a price reduction.
  • Sorry for the delay in replying to your request/question.

Ending Paragraph (the desirable result/outcome of the email)

  • I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and discuss…
  • Your attention and cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
  • In light of the facts mentioned above, I hope/believe…
  • Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
  • If I can provide further details/information, I will be glad to do so.
  • If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
  • Please call me at your earliest convenience so we could discuss these and other issues.
  • I would appreciate an early reply.
  • I am attaching all the necessary documentation to verify the above mentioned.

Closing Sentences:

  • I look forward to… (your reply, hearing from you, meeting you).
  • I await your reply.
  • I am waiting for your order.
  • Thank you for understanding.
  • Thank you in advance.
  • Please let me know ASAP.
  • Please contact me at any time.
  • Please let me know if you have any questions and/or comments.
  • Please feel free to contact me with any questions and/or concerns you may have.
  • Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Closing:

  • Sincerely,
  • Regards,
  • Thank you,
  • Thanks,



Negotiations 1

Negotiations 1 - pod cast
Negotiations 1: Doing your Groundwork
Discussion Questions
1. In your job, what do you have to negotiate?
2. How do you usually prepare for a negotiation?
3. What do you think are the keys to successful negotiation?
Vocabulary
Negotiable: if something is negotiable, it can be changed through discussion before reaching
an agreement; “The delivery date is negotiable because we don’t need the products
immediately.”
Groundwork: to prepare, or research; “Before interviewing for a new job, it’s important to do
your groundwork.”
To overstate: to describe something as bigger or better than it really is; “It’s never a good
idea to overstate your skills in an interview.”
To head into: to enter a place or begin discussions; “Mr. Klassen is heading into a meeting.
Can I take a message for him?”
Party: the people or company on one side of a debate or negotiation; “Both parties were disappointed with the judge’s decision in the case because they felt it was a poor
compromise.”
Analytical: if someone is analytical, they use rational thought and examination to consider ideas; “Being an accountant in an advisory role requires strong analytical skills.”
Emotional: if someone is emotional, they use feelings or instinct to consider ideas and make decisions; “Janelle is too emotional to be a good manager.”
Passive: if someone is passive, they accept things without trying to change or control them; “Charlene was so passive that she never complained about the uncomfortable work situation.”
To tailor: to design something for a very specific set of needs or situation; “Our design team can tailor the website to your company’s needs.”
To open: to begin speaking, often for a presentation or speech; “Every week, the sales manager opens the meeting with a bad joke.”
Rational: based on logic rather than emotion; “A rational person would not make such a dangerous decision.”
To put someone off: to make someone dislike something; “The smell of the blue cheese put off most of the customers in the restaurant.”
To come down to: “come down to” is used to describe the most important thing to think about in a problem or situation; “For most shoppers, everything comes down to price.”
To craft: to create, especially with care or skill; “Please ask the new administrative assistant to craft a letter of apology to the client.”
Consensus: an agreement reached by all the members of a group; “If we can reach a consensus about the timeline, I will email everyone the plan.”
Top dog: the most important or powerful person in a group or company; “After six years as the top dog in Greenwich Consulting, I’ve decided to leave the company.”
To sway: to convince or persuade someone to agree with you; “It will be very difficult to sway the client that we are correct.”
To sign off: to give authorization for something, often a project or a financial investment; “Once management signs off on the new schedule, it will be posted for all the staff.”
To do one’s homework: to gather all the background information on a person, company or situation; to prepare; “Brenda, it’s clear you’ve really done your homework. You’ve covered every question I had.”
Inside information: information that is generally only known by people within a company or situation; “Oscar has hired someone who worked for the competition because he hopes to get some inside information.”
To play around with something: to try and change something; “Even after playing around with the numbers, I can’t get the quote under $8,000.”
Time-sensitive: if something is time-sensitive, it must be completed quickly or by a firm deadline; “This package is time sensitive, so please send it out by the end of the week.”
Immensely: very much or a lot; “We are immensely thankful to the department head for all his work.”
Position: in a negotiation, a position is the basic set of ideas or benefits that a person or party wants to put forward or push for; “The union defended their position strongly but eventually had to settle for less than they wanted.”
A deal breaker: in a negotiation, a deal breaker is something that must be in the deal or else the deal cannot happen; “The warranty extension is a deal breaker. I want the warranty doubled or the deal is off.”
To settle for: to accept a situation or decision, though often unhappily; “Though most staff want a higher wage, they will settle for a basic wage with good benefits.”
To compromise: to give up certain things you want in order to reach an agreement; “In the end, Frank compromised and agreed to give the staff three extra sick days a year.”
Anxious: nervous or worried; “It’s quite normal to feel anxious before an interview.”
Power play: something which is intended to intimidate or force a person to do something; “Poor managers feel that constant power plays are necessary to control staff.”
Subordinate: having less power or authority than another person; “Roger is unwilling to take any criticism from subordinate staff.”

Transcript
Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcast. I’m your host Tim Simmons, and today we’re going to explore the topic of negotiations.
Negotiation is something we all have to do on some level. You might be part of a team discussing a huge contract, or on the phone trying to get a good deal on office supplies, or in your manager’s office asking for a raise. Negotiation happens every day. In fact, you might say that in business everything is negotiable.
To kick off, we’re going to look at what you do before you start negotiating. That’s right, this is about doing your groundwork. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of being prepared, not matter what type of negotiation you’re headed into. The more you know and understand going in, the better deal you’ll walk out with.
So where do you start? Well, good preparation begins with learning about the other party.
You want to understand their style, personality, and the way their groups work. And you also want to understand their negotiating style. What exactly do we mean by “style”? No, this isn’t whether they dress conservatively or casually. This is about how they negotiate. Are they formal or informal? Are they analytical or emotional? Are they aggressive or passive?
Knowing these things will help you tailor your response and approach. For example, if you walk into a negotiation and open with an informal and slightly aggressive approach, but the
other party is accustomed to more formal and rational negotiations, you may put them off.
Of course, a lot of negotiating style comes down to culture. Germans, Koreans, Russians, and Indians will all negotiate differently. So do a bit of research and find out how these groups
typically approach a negotiation. This will reduce misunderstanding and help you craft your
own approach.
Beyond style, you need to know how the other group operates. How do they make decisions?
Are they aiming for group consensus? Or is there a top dog who you need to focus on swaying your way? Does the person in front of you have the authority to sign off on a deal?
These are things you need to know. So do your homework and find out exactly what you’ll be facing.
Great. Now you also need to understand the other party’s position. That is, what exactly do they want and need? And what are they willing and unwilling to give up? To do this, you can try to get inside information, analyze their business situation, and find out about previous deals. Why did they succeed or fail?
Everyone heads into a negotiation with a list of priorities. It might not be written down anywhere. It could just be a general idea like: we can’t play around with price too much, but the timeline is less important. If you know this, you have power. You can also benefit from information about their options. If they can’t make a deal with you, do they have others waiting? Or are you the only one who can give them what they need? How time-sensitive is a deal? Can they wait? Or is that simply not an option for them? Again, this type of information will help you immensely during the negotiation.
Understanding the other party’s position is also necessary in order to figure out your own basic positions. And you shouldn’t have one position in mind. In fact, you should have three.
There’s your dream deal, your expected deal, and your deal breaker. Put another way: what do you really hope for, what can you be satisfied with, and what will you not settle for?
Remember, your reach must exceed your grasp. In other words, aim for more than you think you’re likely to get. But don’t forget that you’re probably going to have to compromise somewhere.
The final aspect of preparation I want to touch on is mental preparation. Be strong, not anxious. Think of the negotiation as a discussion between equals, not a boxing match in
which there’s a clear winner and loser. Making too strong of a power play or appearing too subordinate will hurt you. So relax and treat the negotiation as a problem to be solved with the other party.
In this way, negotiation is just like anything else in life. The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to succeed. So don’t leave too much to chance. Get ready, and get negotiating.
That’s all for today. I’ll be back next week with some tips on what to do during the negotiation. We’ll talk about control, concessions, and, yes, money.
If you’d like to test yourself on what we’ve just covered, have a look at the www.myBEonline.com website. There you’ll find a quiz about today’s show as well as a complete transcript.
So long. And see you again soon.
Review
1. What does good preparation begin with?
A deciding on your basic positions
B learning about the other party’s way of negotiating
C understanding the other party’s budget
D discussing negotiating strategies
2. According to Tim, why is it important to understand the other party’s style?
A in order to know what to wear to the negotiation
B in order to know how to determine your position
C in order to anticipate their position
D in order to tailor your approach
3. Which of the following does Tim mention as things you should know about the other
party? (Select all that apply.)
A their position
B their cultural mode of negotiation
C their personal habits
D their company’s financial health
E their perception of your style
F their style and personality
4. Tim explains that everyone goes into a negotiation with a list of _________.
5. What are the three basic positions that Tim mentions?
A your first deal, your second deal, and your third deal
B your perfect deal, your hopeful deal, and your compromise deal
C your dream deal, your expected deal, and your deal breaker
D your best deal, your okay deal, and your worst deal
6. Tim says that you should think of a negotiation as a _________.
A boxing match
B discussion
C power play
D solution
Review Answers
1. What does good preparation begin with?
B learning about the other party’s way of negotiating
2. According to Tim, why is it important to understand the other party’s style?
D in order to tailor your approach
3. Which of the following does Tim mention as things you should know about
the other party? (choose all that apply)
A their position
B their cultural mode of negotiation
F their style and personality
4. Tim explains that everyone goes into a negotiation with a list of _________.
priorities
5. What are the three basic positions that Tim mentions?
C your dream deal, your expected deal, and your deal breaker
6. Tim says that you should think of a negotiation as a __________.
B discussion

























































































Business Meetings in English